PICKET DUTY.
This most important feature, for the safety of an army, is perhaps the least understood of all that appertains to the art of war. As the same system is germain to all armies, the following explanation will, no doubt, be acceptable in this volume, as the duty has been seldom described, though often spoken of, in the numerous details of midnight attacks, and skirmishes. In the disposition of, say two hundred men, they go forth to a point designated as the grand reserve, varying in distance from two hundred rods to nearly a mile from the outer or picket line, where are left half of the number as a reserve, in case the pickets are driven in, and also for mutual relief in their fatiguing duties (often out on picket for three days). Then, to the right and nearer the line, is stationed an officer and forty-eight men, who immediately relieve the line of men (who are out in front) sixteen in number, leaving thirty-two men on the support, so-called—or two more reliefs, relieving each other every two hours; the same on the left support.
When six hours have passed, the three reliefs on each support having stood on post their two hours each, the Grand Reserve sends out the ninety-six men who have been resting—forty-eight to each support—they, in turn, going through the same routine—the first ninety-six men going back to the main reserve to rest, &c. Thus the whole thing is systematized, the Grand Reserve and the supports alternately relieving each other, until the whole time for which they are detailed, expires, when another detail from some other Regiment relieves the whole picket. The Picket Guard is always commanded by a Staff Officer. The following is a specimen of an order from Brigade Headquarters, detailing a Picket Guard from the Thirty-third Regiment:
Headquarters 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Corps.
(Special Orders.)
Ten Commissioned Officers, fifty Non-Commissioned Officers, and three hundred and fifty Privates, will be detailed from the Thirty-third Regiment N. Y. S. Volunteers, for Picket Guards, and will mount at 9.30 A. M.
Major John S. Platner, 33d N. Y. S. V., and Assistant-Surgeon Richard Curran, of the same Regiment, will accompany the detail, which is to remain on duty for three successive days.
Grand Guard Mounting will be had according to Butterfield’s System, on which a Division Staff Officer will perform the duties of Assistant-Adjutant-General of Brigade, and a Brigade Staff Officer will act as Regimental Adjutant. By command of
BRIG. GENERAL THOS. H. NEILL.
W. H. Long,
Captain and A. Gen’l.
Headquarters 6th Army Corps, February 25th, 1863.
(Orders.)
Colonel R. F. Taylor, Commanding First Brigade Second Division, is detailed as General Officer of the day for to-morrow, and will report at these Headquarters at 9 o’clock, A. M. By command of
MAJOR GENERAL SEDGWICK.
(Signed) C. A. Whittier,
Captain and A. A. A. General.
Headquarters 2d Division, 6th Corps, February 25, 1863.
[Official.]
E. Mattock,
Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen’l.
Headquarters 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Corps, March 12th, 1863.
[Special Orders No. 7.]
First Lieutenant L. C. Mix, 33d N. Y. S. V., is hereby detailed on special duty at these Headquarters. He will report to Colonel Taylor for duty at once.
By order of
COLONEL TAYLOR,
Commanding 1st Brigade.
John W. Corning,
Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen’l.
Headquarters 2d Division, 6th Corps, March 14th, 1863.
[Special Orders No. 51.]
Lieutenant William E. Roach, Co. B, 33d N. Y. S. V., is detailed for duty in the Ambulance Corps. He will report, without delay, to Lieutenant Wood, Commanding Ambulance Corps. By order of
BRIGADIER GENERAL HOWE.
(Signed) E. Mattocks,
Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen’l.
Headquarters 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Corps, March 16th, 1863.
[Official.]
John W. Corning,
Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen’l.
Headquarters 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Corps, April 15th, 1863.
[Circular.]
I. On the march blankets and shelter-tents will be worn diagonally over the shoulder, from right shoulder to left side; overcoats will be rolled and packed on the top of the knapsacks.
II. The rations will be carried precisely as ordered in circular from these Headquarters of April 13, 1863.
III. The surplus clothing, not already disposed of, will be packed in cracker-boxes, marked and sent to the barge, awaiting transportation to Washington. The instructions contained in General Orders No. 155, Army of the Potomac, 1862, in regard to the duties of Commanders of Regiments and Companies towards their Commands, whilst on the march, will be strictly observed. No man will leave his Command without proper authority in writing.
IV. Commanding Officers of Regiments will be held responsible for the execution of these orders.
By command of
BRIGADIER GENERAL NEILL.
William H. Long,
Captain and A. A. Gen’l.
Medical Director’s Office, Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Falmouth, Va., March 9th, 1863.
[Circular.]
General:—I have the honor to invite the attention of the Commanding General to a practice quite prevalent in the army; that of excavating the earth, building a hut over the hole, and covering it over with brush and dirt and canvass.
This system is exceedingly pernicious, and must have a deleterious effect upon the health of the troops occupying these abominable habitations; they are hot-beds of low forms of fever, and when not productive of such diseases, the health of the men is undermined, even if they are not compelled to report sick.
I strongly recommend that, in huts covered by canvass, the covering be removed at least twice a week, if the weather permit, and the men throughout the army be compelled to hang their bedding in the open air every clear day. I am, General,
Very respectfully your obedient Servant,
(Signed) JNO. LETTERMAN,
Medical Director A. P.
Headquarters 2d Division, 6th Corps, March 16, 1863.
[Official Copy.]
Brigade Commanders of the Second Division will take immediate measures to carry out the recommendation in the above order. By order of
BRIGADIER GENERAL HOWE.
(Signed) E. Mattocks,
Lieutenant and A. A. Gen’l.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac, March 15th, 1863.
[Official Copy.]
Respectfully furnished for the information of the Commanding Officer of Sixth Corps, who will at once take measures to carry into effect the recommendations of the Medical Director. By command of
MAJOR GENERAL HOOKER.
(Signed) S. Williams, A. A. General.
Headquarters 6th Corps, March 15th, 1863.
[Official Copy.]
The attention of Division Commanders is called to the above. By command of
MAJOR GENERAL SEDGWICK.
(Signed) C. A. Whittier,
Captain and A. A. A. Gen’l.
Headquarters 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Corps, March 17th, 1863.
[Official Copy.]
Regimental Commanders in this Brigade will see that the above order is strictly complied with. By order of
COLONEL R. F. TAYLOR,
Commanding First Brigade.
Lucius C. Mix,
Lieutenant and A. A. A. General.
Headquarters 3d Brigade, Smith’s Division, August 8th, 1862.
[Special Orders No. 180.]
A Board of Survey will assemble at the Quartermaster’s Department of the Thirty-third New York State Volunteers, at 3 o’clock, P. M., to-day, to examine into and report upon a quantity of bacon issued to the Thirty-third Regiment N. Y. S. V., by the Third Brigade, C. S., on the 7th instant. The bacon is reported unfit for issue.
The Board will make a full report.
Detail for the Board:
Capt. Patrick McGraw, Co. K,
Lieut. L. C. Mix, Co. C,
Lieut. P. W. Bailey, Co. D, 33d N. Y. V.
By order of
LIEUT.-COL. JOS. W. CORNING,
Commanding Third Brigade.
W. H. Cameron,
A. A. A. General.
Headquarters 1st Brigade, 2d Division 6th Corps, March 4th, 1863.
[Special Orders.]
Private ——, Co. G, Thirty-third New York State Volunteers, is hereby detailed on “extra duty” in the Brigade Commissary Department. He will report to Lieutenant Otis Cole, A. C. S. of this Brigade, with the least possible delay. By order of
COLONEL R. F. TAYLOR,
Commanding First Brigade.
Lucius C. Mix,
Lieutenant and A. A. A. General.
Charges and Specifications against Private —— ——, of Company ——, Thirty-third Regiment New York State Volunteers.
CHARGE.
Violation of the 21st Article of War.
SPECIFICATION.
In this that said Private —— —— of Company ——, Thirty-third Regiment New York State Volunteers, did, without leave of his Commanding Officer, absent himself from his Camp and Company at about nine o’clock, A. M., of the 12th day of December, 1861, and remained absent until about nine o’clock, P. M., of the 13th day of December, 1861; this at Camp Griffin, near Lewinsville, Virginia.
Lieut. Commanding Co. — 33d Reg’t N. Y. S. V.
Witnesses —— ——
FURLOUGH FOR ENLISTED MEN.
To all whom it may Concern:
The bearer hereof, ——, Private, of Captain ——’s Company [——], Regiment of New York State Volunteers; aged —— years, —— feet —— inches high, —— complexion, —— eyes, —— hair, and by profession a —— born in —— of ——, and enlisted at —— in the —— of —— on the —— day of ——, eighteen hundred and —— to serve for the period of —— years, is hereby permitted to go to ——, in the county of ——, State of —— he having received a furlough from the —— day of —— 186—, to the —— day of ——, 186—, at which period he will rejoin his Company and Regiment at ——, or wherever it then may be, or be considered a deserter.
Subsistence has been furnished to said —— —— to the —— day of ——, 186— and pay to the —— day of ——, 186—, both inclusive.
Given under my hand at —— this —— day of ——, 186—.
R. F. TAYLOR,
Commanding Regiment.
FURLOUGH.
——, a Private of Company ——, Thirty-third Regiment New York State Volunteers.
Recommended for —— days, for the following reasons: Absent at present two (2).
The Regiment is entitled to ten enlisted men on furlough at once.
MAJOR JNO. S. PLATNER,
Commanding Regiment.
Headquarters, —— Brigade, ——, 186—.
Approved for ten days, and respectfully forwarded.
R. F. TURNER,
Commanding Brigade.
Headquarters, ——, Division ——, 186—.
Approved for ten days, and respectfully forwarded.
THOS. H. NEILL,
Brig. Gen. Commanding Division.
Headquarters, —— 6th Corps, ——, 186—.
Approved for ten days. By command of
MAJOR GENERAL SEDGWICK.
C. A. Whittier,
Captain and A. A. A. Genl.
Headquarters, 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 6th Corps.
Brigade Orders, No. 5.
The following calls, emanating from these Headquarters, will hereafter be sounded:
| Reveille, at | Daybreak. | |
| Surgeon’s Call, at | 7.00 | A. M. |
| Breakfast, at | 7.30 | A. M. |
| Guarding Mounting, | 8.00 | A. M. |
| Drill Call, at | 9.30 | A. M. |
| Recall from Drill, at | 11.45 | A. M. |
| Dinner, at | 12.00 | M. |
| Drill Call, | 2.00 | P. M. |
| Recall from Drill, | 4.00 | P. M. |
| First Call for Dress Parade (Assembly), | 5.15 | P. M. |
| Adjutant’s Call to form Parade, | 5.45 | P. M. |
| Tattoo, | 8.30 | P. M. |
| Taps, | 9.00 | P. M. |
By order of
BRIGADIER GENERAL T. H. NEILL.
Wm. H. Long,
Captain and A. A. General.